CDR Yamaha’s Dan Reardon is facing a race against time to defend his Australian Supercross Championship after a dislocated knee resulted in a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during Sunday’s Motul MX Nationals round.

Reardon, 30, exited the opening race at Nowra Motoplex and didn’t return for the remainder of the day. Scans this week confirmed the worst, with the painful knee injury ending his outdoor campaign and jeopardising his SX defence.

“I’ve ruptured my ACL, but at this stage all the other ligaments seem to be in tact,” Reardon told MotoOnline.com.au. “We’re making plans now on what happens next, because I do have a few options. I probably won’t make that decision until the end of the week, but then everything will most likely happen straight away.”

Whatever direction Reardon opts for, it will be geared toward lining at the Jimboomba’s opening round of the 2016 Australian Supercross series on 17 September, where he plans to compete for back-to-back SX1 crowns. He won last year’s title in remarkable fashion upon return to the sport following two full years of retirement.

“As of Nowra, the plan is to get ready for supercross,” he added. “I can be, it’s just a matter of deciding what method we take. The only surgery I won’t do is the traditional ACL surgery that a lot of people do get. That would be at a later time if I have to do it – there are alternate options.”

Regardless, Reardon’s MX Nationals season is over after a frustrating first half of the year affected by various injuries and a battle to reach full health. A mid-season trip to America was due to increase his chances during the back-half, before the round six injury put him out for the remainder.